08/15/2026
Happy World Stingray Day! 🌊
Do you know which three species of stingrays you will be able to see at Bowen Aquarium? Each of these species are native to the East Coast of Florida and play an important role in their ecosystems. Learn a little bit about them below!
Southern Stingray: These rays inhabit the east coasts of North and South America, stretching from the Northeastern United States down to Brazil. They are identifiable by their diamond-shaped bodies and long, thin tails. This species is near threatened with a decreasing population due to bycatch and overtourism in their native habitat.
Atlantic Stingray: This species primarily inhabits the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, but their range reaches all the way up to North Carolina. They are one of the smaller stingray species and have a rounded body shape with an elongated, pointed snout. Atlantic stingrays also face a decreasing population due to bycatch.
American Cownose Stingray: The cownose ray is one of the most distinguishable species due to the two rounded lobes at the front of their head. They use this anatomical feature to probe the seafloor when searching for prey. They have a similar range to the Southern stingray, stretching from Massachusetts to Uruguay. Like other ray species, bycatch is a leading cause of population decline.
Our aquarium’s immersive stingray habitat will help connect guests from around the world to these incredible and often misunderstood species. If you’d like to catch these majestic creatures in action before our opening, head to our sister campus, Brevard Zoo, to observe their Southern and Atlantic stingrays.
